Caustic Soda Flakes Price Today: Sodium Hydroxide 98% & 99% per Ton
Caustic Soda Flakes Price, NaOH 98% & 99%
FOB $785–835 per Metric Ton
The caustic soda flakes price — the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) flakes price for solid NaOH 98% — is $785/MT FOB Mersin (Türkiye) and $805/MT FOB Jebel Ali (UAE) for one full container in 25 kg bags — about $0.785–0.805 per kg, or $19,625–20,125 for a 20ft FCL of 25 MT. NaOH 99% flakes are $805–835/MT. Landed CIF runs $805–980/MT on the lanes below. This page decodes the flakes price by purity, packaging, origin and Incoterm.
- Product
- Solid NaOH flakes
- Packing
- 25 kg PP bags · 1 MT FIBC
- Minimum order
- 1 FCL (20ft or 40ft)
- Loading ports
- Mersin · Jebel Ali
- HS / CAS
- 2815.11 · 1310-73-2
- Dangerous goods
- UN 1823 · Class 8 PG II
All forms side by side: caustic soda price today. Landed cost at your port: caustic soda price by country.
- $785FOB Mersin, 98%
- $805FOB Jebel Ali, 98%
- 1 FCLMinimum order
- 24 hFirm quote turnaround
What is the caustic soda flakes price today?
As of , NaOH 98% caustic soda flakes are $785/MT FOB Mersin and $805/MT FOB Jebel Ali — roughly $0.785–0.805 per kg, $19.63–20.13 per 25 kg bag, or $19,625–20,125 for one 20ft FCL of 25 MT, with 25 kg bagging, IMDG Class 8 port handling and export documents included. Both origins rose $5/MT on 5 October 2026 after holding at $780–800/MT since August.
Landed CIF adds about $20–175/MT for ocean freight, the Class 8 surcharge and marine cover on the lanes below, giving $805–980/MT depending on the destination port. The $20 gap between the two origins reflects port handling and freight position, not a quality difference.
CIF range = FOB Mersin + low freight → FOB Jebel Ali + high freight for the lane · 25 MT per 20ft FCL| Grade | Origin | FOB USD/MT | CIF from this origin (est.) | Per kg | Per 25 kg bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flakes 98% | Mersin | 785 | 820–960 | $0.785 | $19.63 |
| Flakes 98% | Jebel Ali | 805 | 825–955 | $0.805 | $20.13 |
| Flakes 99% | Mersin | 805 | 840–980 | $0.805 | $20.13 |
| Flakes 99% | Jebel Ali | 825–835 | 845–985 | $0.825–0.835 | $20.63–20.88 |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
- Product
- Solid sodium hydroxide flakes, NaOH 98% min
- Also called
- Solid caustic soda, NaOH flakes, lye flakes
- CAS / HS
- 1310-73-2 · HS 2815.11
- Dangerous goods
- UN 1823 · Class 8 · PG II
- Packing
- 25 kg PP + PE liner · 1 MT FIBC · bulk liner
- Minimum order
- 1 FCL, 20ft or 40ft
- Loading ports
- Mersin (TR) · Jebel Ali (AE)
- Incoterms
- FOB · CFR · CIF (Incoterms 2020)
- Quote turnaround
- Firm FOB or CIF in 24 hours
Indicative ranges only
Every figure here is a market range reviewed weekly, not a binding offer. Your firm caustic soda flakes price depends on grade, packaging, quantity, payment terms and destination port.
Estimate the value of your flakes order
Pick the purity, the basis and the volume. The estimator applies this page’s FOB levels and the freight band for the lane with the same formula as the CIF table, so the result matches the tables. Duty, VAT and inland delivery are not included — add your own rates on the price by country calculator.
25 kg PP bags at 25 MT per 20ft container. CIF results use the table formula: low end = FOB Mersin + low freight, high end = FOB Jebel Ali + high freight. Five or more containers usually price $10–25/MT below the single-container level; the estimator shows list levels.
Indicative for budgeting, not an offer. Send grade, tonnage and discharge port for a firm, contractable quotation.
How we assess the caustic soda flakes price
Published so you can judge the number rather than take it on faith, and tell whether it is comparable to the index you are reading elsewhere.
What the figure represents
The headline levels are export-desk assessments, not producer list prices. They describe one 20ft container of NaOH 98% flakes in 25 kg PP bags with PE liner, loaded on board at Mersin or Jebel Ali, with IMDG Class 8 port handling, hazard labelling, a Dangerous Goods Declaration and the full export document set (commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, COA and SDS) inside the number. They are compiled from live offers and concluded business for 1–3 FCL lots, reviewed weekly and reset monthly.
Why it sits above published index levels
Third-party assessments such as ChemAnalyst and IMARC put regional Q2 2026 caustic soda assessments well below containerised export levels — ChemAnalyst at about $451/MT for Japan and $589/MT for the United States, for example. Those numbers are real, but they describe a different product configuration:
| Variable | Typical index quote | This page |
|---|---|---|
| Lot size | Contract / multi-thousand tonne | Single 20ft FCL, about 25 MT |
| Packing | Bulk or 1 MT FIBC | 25 kg PP bags with PE liner |
| Basis | Producer gate or domestic FOB | Export hub, loaded on board |
| DG and documents | Often quoted separately | Included in the number |
| Unit | Sometimes USD/DMT (100% NaOH basis) | USD/MT of product at 98% assay |
| Inspection | Buyer’s arrangement | SGS / BV / Cotecna ready at origin |
What determines the caustic soda flakes price?
A flakes quote is a stack of cost layers. Reading the stack lets you compare two offers that look different but quote different things.
| Layer | What it covers | Effect on price |
|---|---|---|
| 01 · Production | Electricity (40–60% of cost), salt brine, steam for evaporation and flaking | base |
| 02 · Chlorine co-product | NaOH and chlorine are made together; weak chlorine demand tightens caustic supply | ± swing |
| 03 · Flaking premium | Evaporating and drying liquid caustic into solid flakes | +$100–200 |
| 04 · Purity | 99% commands a premium over 98% | +2 to +4% |
| 05 · Packaging | 25 kg PP bags cost more per ton than 1 MT jumbo bags or bulk | +$8–35 |
| 06 · DG and export readiness | UN 1823 Class 8 port surcharge, labelling, COA/SDS, inspection | surcharge |
| 07 · Lot size | One container prices higher per ton than a multi-FCL contract | small-lot |
| = FOB $785–805 | Loaded on board at Mersin or Jebel Ali — the price most exporters quote first | FOB/MT |
| 08 · Ocean freight | Sea freight with the Class 8 surcharge, plus marine insurance | +$20–175 |
| = CIF $805–980 | Landed at your port — the number that lets you compare suppliers fairly | CIF/MT |
The flakes price is dominated upstream by energy and downstream by logistics. Electricity drives the chlor-alkali electrolysis that splits brine into sodium hydroxide and chlorine — see how caustic soda is made — the flaking step adds an evaporation premium over liquid caustic soda, and dangerous-goods freight inflates every tonne that crosses an ocean. Purity, packaging, paperwork and lot size are smaller adjustments, and they are the levers you can negotiate.
Caustic soda flakes price by purity grade
Purity sets both price and fitness for use. We supply flakes in two assay grades, 98% and 99%.
| Grade | NaOH assay | Impurities controlled | FOB USD/MT | Best-fit use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial (base) | 98% min | Low iron, controlled Na₂CO₃ | 785 Mersin · 805 Jebel Ali base | Soap, textiles, water treatment, pulp |
| High purity | 99% min | Very low iron, NaCl and heavy metals | 805 Mersin · 825–835 Jebel Ali +2 to +4% | Precision chemicals, rayon, battery inputs |
Do not over-buy purity. Paying the 99% premium for a process that runs on 98% flakes costs roughly $500–750 on one 25 MT container. Equally, where a process is sensitive to chloride or iron staining, 99% is cheap insurance — one rejected textile batch costs more than the premium. Food processing is a certification question as well as a purity one: it needs certified food-grade material, so confirm it with the desk before ordering. If dust control matters, compare the same assay in caustic soda pearls. Full parameter ranges are on the caustic soda flakes product page and in the flakes technical data sheet (PDF).
How packaging changes the flakes price
Flakes are a hygroscopic Class 8 solid, so packaging is part of the product. The same 98% flake carries a different cost per ton depending on how it is bagged.
| Packaging | Unit | Per-ton cost impact | Tons per 20ft FCL | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 kg PP woven bags (PE liner) | 25 kg · about 1,000 bags | +$20–35 vs bulk | about 25 MT loose, 24 MT palletised | Distributors, manual handling, resale |
| 1 MT jumbo bags (FIBC) | 1 MT · 22–24 bags | +$8–18 vs bulk | about 22–24 MT | Plants with forklifts and hoppers |
| Bulk / liner bags | — | lowest | maximum payload | High-volume single-site users |
Two buyers ordering identical 98% flakes can receive quotes $25/MT apart purely on packaging — about $625 on one 25 MT container. If your site can unload FIBCs or bulk, you capture a lower price; if you need shelf-ready 25 kg bags for resale, you pay for that convenience. Ask for packaging as a separate line so you compare like with like. Intact PE liners also protect the assay in transit and in store — see how to store caustic soda safely.
Caustic soda flakes price by origin and loading port
Origin is the biggest single reason two FOB quotes diverge. The cheapest factory gate is rarely the cheapest landed cost once freight and dangerous-goods surcharges are added.
| Origin | Loading port | FOB 98% (indicative) | Why | Strong for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Asia / China | Multiple | lowest headline | The world’s largest capacity — about 51.5 million tonnes a year in China in 2025 — and persistent surplus | Large contracts with long transit |
| India | Mundra, Nhava Sheva | competitive | New chlor-alkali capacity online | South Asia lanes |
| Türkiye (our origin) | Mersin | 785 USD/MT | Keener of our two origins; EU-grade documents, EUR.1 / A.TR where applicable; no Hormuz transit | West Africa, Black Sea, Mediterranean |
| UAE (our origin) | Jebel Ali | 805 USD/MT | DG-ready packing, shortest transit to Gulf ports | Gulf, East Africa, South Asia |
Between our two origins, Mersin at $785/MT is the keener gate for West Africa, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, while Jebel Ali at $805/MT wins on transit into the Gulf, East Africa and South Asia. Origin detail is on the caustic soda supplier Türkiye and caustic soda supplier UAE pages. A low factory gate that arrives weeks late without a Dangerous Goods Declaration is not a cheaper tonne.
How Incoterms shape the landed flakes price
Two quotes for the same flakes can differ by more than $100/MT purely because one is FOB and the other CIF. Incoterms 2020 define where the seller’s cost stops.
| Incoterm | Seller pays up to | You arrange | Ocean freight | Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOB Free On Board | Loaded on the vessel at the origin port | Freight, insurance, import | No | No |
| CFR / CNF Cost & Freight | Destination port, freight paid | Insurance, import | Yes | No |
| CIF Cost, Insurance & Freight | Destination port plus marine cover | Import clearance only | Yes | Yes |
The FOB price is the cleanest figure for comparing suppliers, because it strips out freight you can shop separately; the CIF price is your landed cost at the quay. Ask for both: if your forwarder beats the seller’s freight, buy FOB and self-ship; if not, buy CIF. CIF cover under Incoterms 2020 is minimum Institute Cargo Clauses (C) unless you specify otherwise — for long transits, ask for (A) cover and price it in.
Dangerous-goods cost reality
Flakes ship as UN 1823, Class 8, packing group II, HS 2815.11. That adds port DG surcharges at origin and a 15–30% freight premium at sea over ordinary cargo, so the FOB-to-CIF spread is wider than for non-hazardous chemicals — $20–175/MT on our lanes. A quote far below the market may simply exclude these, or quote bulk instead of bagged product.
Caustic soda flakes CIF price by destination port
Indicative landed ranges for NaOH 98% flakes in 25 kg bags, one 20ft FCL, including ocean freight, the Class 8 surcharge and marine insurance. Low end = FOB Mersin $785 + low freight; high end = FOB Jebel Ali $805 + high freight — the same method as the caustic soda price by country table and the order estimator above. Duty, port charges and inland delivery are excluded.
| Destination region | Countries · example ports | Best origin | Freight USD/MT | Transit | CIF USD/MT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Africa | Kenya (Mombasa), Tanzania (Dar es Salaam), Mozambique (Beira, Maputo) | Jebel Ali | 70–145 | 7–19 days | 855–950 |
| Horn of Africa / Red Sea | Djibouti, Sudan (Port Sudan) | Jebel Ali | 65–100 | 5–9 days | 850–905 |
| West Africa | Nigeria (Lagos/Apapa), Ghana (Tema), Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan), Senegal (Dakar), Togo (Lomé) | Mersin | 120–175 | 10–18 days | 905–980 |
| Southern Africa | South Africa (Durban); Zambia and Zimbabwe in transit | Jebel Ali | 115–150 | 16–21 days | 900–955 |
| Black Sea / East Europe | Romania (Constanța), Bulgaria (Varna), Georgia (Poti), Ukraine (Odesa) | Mersin | 45–80 | 3–7 days | 830–885 |
| East Mediterranean | Egypt (Alexandria), Lebanon (Beirut) | Mersin | 35–60 | 2–5 days | 820–865 |
| Gulf | Saudi Arabia (Dammam), Oman (Sohar), Qatar (Hamad) | Jebel Ali | 20–40 | 1–4 days | 805–845 |
| South Asia | Pakistan (Karachi), Sri Lanka (Colombo), Bangladesh (Chittagong) | Jebel Ali | 40–100 | 3–14 days | 825–905 |
| Southeast Asia | Malaysia (Port Klang), Indonesia (Jakarta), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) | Jebel Ali | 85–135 | 11–18 days | 870–940 |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Freight advisory — Jebel Ali lanes, October 2026
Jebel Ali lies inside the Gulf, so every sailing to Sohar, East Africa, the Red Sea and South or Southeast Asia must transit the Strait of Hormuz. Commercial traffic through the strait has been severely restricted since late February 2026, and attacks escalated in October, with six commercial vessels struck in and around the strait on 11 October. Freight on those lanes is re-checked on every quotation and can carry a war-risk surcharge or a longer schedule. Gulf ports such as Dammam and Hamad are reached without crossing the strait, and Mersin lanes do not pass through it at all.
Lot-size economics and container loading
The minimum order is one full container load, 20ft or 40ft. A 40ft box carries little more weight than a 20ft for this dense cargo, so most flakes move in 20ft containers of about 25 MT (1,000 bags) — $19,625 FOB Mersin or $20,125 FOB Jebel Ali.
Single container
- Firm price for 7 days
- Full DG document set and COA
- T/T or L/C at sight
Multi-container
- One origin, consistent assay
- Shipment schedule agreed in advance
- Freight booked earlier
Contract volume
- Priority loading when Class 8 space tightens
- Fixed or indexed pricing
- Specification locked for the term
Caustic soda flakes market and price trends in 2026
The flakes market is pulled in opposite directions by region, which is why a single “global price” misleads.
China is the swing supplier. Its caustic soda capacity reached about 51.5 million tonnes a year in 2025, by far the largest of any country, and continued surplus keeps Northeast Asian flake offers the lowest in the world. Europe is structurally tighter after the permanent 2025 closures at Fortischem, Spolana, Vencorex and Arkema Jarrie, while weak industrial demand caps how far its prices run. North America carries a slow regulatory overhang: the EPA’s 2024 rule phasing out asbestos diaphragm cells sets conversion deadlines between 2029 and 2036, and it is still under EPA reconsideration with the court challenge unresolved — a long-term rather than near-term factor for US export volumes.
Logistics is the live wildcard. The Strait of Hormuz disruption since late February 2026 triggered price spikes and force majeure declarations across the chlor-alkali chain, and the October 2026 escalation keeps war-risk cover and longer schedules on the table for cargo that has to leave the Gulf. That is exactly why transit time and origin diversification are worth paying for.
What could push the flakes price up
- Rising alumina output and Bayer-process demand
- Recovering PVC and pulp activity
- Further European chlor-alkali capacity loss
- War-risk premiums on Gulf lanes lifting DG freight
- Winter power-price spikes in Europe and Northeast Asia
What could pull it down
- Continued Chinese export surplus
- New Indian chlor-alkali capacity online
- Softer energy costs in Europe
- Weak European industrial and construction demand
- Slower African and South Asian industrial demand
| Region | FOB 98% tone | Direction | Main driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Asia | lowest headline | Soft / range-bound | Chinese surplus |
| Türkiye (Mersin) | 785 USD/MT | Firm, +$5 | EU-grade documents, Mediterranean freight access |
| UAE (Jebel Ali) | 805 USD/MT | Firm, +$5 | DG-ready export; Hormuz freight risk |
| Europe | highest | Tightening | 2025 plant closures, energy cost |
| North America | mid | Watch | Diaphragm-cell conversions, rule under reconsideration |
Caustic soda flakes price trend and Q4 2026 outlook
Our own published FOB levels over time, and the planning band we use for flakes 98% through the quarter — the same band as the caustic soda price today forecast.
| Period | FOB Mersin | FOB Jebel Ali | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| August – 4 October 2026 | 780 | 800 | flat |
| From 5 October 2026 | 785 | 805 | +$5 |
| Q4 2026 planning band | 765–835 | 765–835 | range-bound |
- Last change
- +$5/MT on 5 Oct 2026
- Flakes 98% · now
- $785 / $805
- Flakes 99% · now
- $805 / $825–835
- Flakes 98% · Q4 band
- $765–835 FOB
- Direction
- Range-bound
- Next review
- Early November 2026
The Q3 seasonal lift — restocking by alumina refiners and pulp mills that typically adds 3–8% to Asian flake levels between late June and August — is behind the market. Our levels moved up $5/MT on 5 October 2026 and we expect a range-bound quarter: Chinese surplus caps the upside, while European closures, winter power costs and Class 8 freight risk limit the downside. Steady buyers usually lock part of Q4 and Q1 volume at known levels and keep the balance on spot — contact the desk to structure a quarterly agreement.
How end use shapes the flakes price you should pay
The grade you buy, and the price you should accept, follow from the application. Matching purity to use is the cleanest way to avoid overpaying.
| Industry | Use of NaOH flakes | Typical grade | Price priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soap and detergent | Saponification of fats and oils | 98% | Cost and consistency |
| Water treatment | pH correction, coagulation aid | 98% | Lowest landed cost |
| Textiles | Mercerising cotton, scouring | 98% | Iron control (no staining) |
| Pulp and paper | Kraft pulping, bleaching | 98% | Volume / contract pricing |
| Mining and alumina | Bayer digestion, pH control in gold and copper circuits | 98%+ | Security of supply |
| Chemicals and rayon | Precision synthesis, viscose | 99% | Purity over price |
| Food processing | Olive curing, peeling | 99%, certified food grade | Certification over price |
Tell your supplier the application, not just “98% flakes” — it changes which COA parameters matter. The full range of grades is explained in types and grades of caustic soda.
How to source and import caustic soda flakes
Eight steps, in order — written for a first import as much as a repeat one.
Why buy caustic soda flakes from SUHA
An exporter loading from two ports, with offices in Dubai and Ankara. Landed cost, not headline price, decides where you buy.
Two loading origins
Mersin or Jebel Ali — we route through the port that gives your lane the shortest transit and lowest landed cost.
Firm quotes in 24 hours
Send grade, packaging, quantity and destination port and receive a binding FOB or CIF quotation within one business day.
Complete DG documents
COA, B/L, packing list, invoice, certificate of origin, SDS and Dangerous Goods Declaration, with EUR.1 / A.TR from Türkiye where applicable.
Inspection before you pay
SGS, Bureau Veritas or Cotecna at origin before the container is sealed, so quality and quantity are verified first.
Caustic soda flakes price — FAQ
Flakes-specific questions. General questions — HS code, FOB versus CIF, container capacity, minimum order and dangerous-goods handling — are answered on the caustic soda price today page.
References
- Index assessments — ChemAnalyst caustic soda prices; IMARC caustic soda flakes pricing report
- Capacity — Blooming, China’s caustic soda capacity reaches 51.51 Mt in 2025
- Process — chloralkali process; substance identifiers PubChem CID 14798
- Regulation — Bergeson & Campbell, EPA to reconsider the asbestos Part 1 rule
- Trade terms — ICC Incoterms 2020; dangerous goods — IMO IMDG Code, UN 1823 Class 8
- Shipping disruption — gCaptain, six ships struck in a single day near Hormuz, 11 October 2026
Assessed by the SUHA International Trading export desk, Dubai and Ankara, from live offers and concluded FCL business. Prices changed ; reviewed . Indicative only, not a binding offer.
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Send grade, packaging, quantity and destination port. A firm FOB or CIF quotation — DG handling and documents included — comes back within one business day. Firm for 7 days.
